Celtic /e:/ → Welsh <wy>

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alice
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Celtic /e:/ → Welsh <wy>

Post by alice »

What was the motivation behind this rather unusual sound change? Was it similar to or related in any way to /ei/ → /oi/ in French?
Zompist's Markov generator wrote:it was labelled" orange marmalade," but that is unutterably hideous.

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linguoboy
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Re: Celtic /e:/ → Welsh <wy>

Post by linguoboy »

I mean, it is clearly similar. Are you asking if the two changes are ultimately connected or just parallel developments?

In Breton, the parallels are even closer, with Proto-Brittonic *uɨ becoming <oue> or <oa>, e.g.:

*pē(n)sum > *puɨs > W. pwys, B pouez
*cēra(m) > *kuɨr > W cwyr, B. koar

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alice
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Re: Celtic /e:/ → Welsh <wy>

Post by alice »

Are the intermediate stages known, and do they resemble those of the development in French?
Zompist's Markov generator wrote:it was labelled" orange marmalade," but that is unutterably hideous.

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